WALES’ innovative early-years’ programme will not on its own be enough to raise school standards, the nation’s chief inspector warned yesterday.

Estyn’s Ann Keane said that while the Foundation Phase gives “cause for optimism”, progress across all age groups is vital to future success.

She told delegates at an education conference in Cardiff that the flagship policy and improved exam results do not go hand in hand.

“The Foundation Phase has brought enormous benefits to the majority of schools,” said Ms Keane.

“But the Foundation Phase on its own is not going to deliver GCSE results many years later and we’ve got to ensure there is progress through each of the Key Stages.”

Delivering her annual report, Ms Keane last week described the Foundation Phase – which was rolled-out across Wales in September – as a “good news story”.

But the policy’s development is by no means complete and the quality of younger children’s writing is sub-standard in a quarter of primary schools.

Ms Keane said although the majority of schools bought into the initiative, in some cases teachers were “too enthusiastic” and gave children too much control.

The Foundation Phase, hailed by former First Minister Rhodri Morgan as his proudest achievement in government, is considered one of the jewels in the Welsh crown.

Introduced in 2008, it caters for pupils aged three to seven and uses play-based approaches to develop children’s creativity and confidence.

Ms Keane said Estyn would make a final assessment at the end of the academic year, when the first sample of children have completed their Foundation Phase cycle.

“The Foundation Phase does give us cause for optimism but there is a minority of settings in schools where the balance between teacher-led and child-led activities is not what we would expect,” she said.

“There is a perception that when the Foundation Phase is played out, all will be well. It does not follow that that will be the case.”

Ms Keane said Estyn was keeping a closer eye on standards of wellbeing in schools as part of its new inspection framework.

Children are for the first time being given questionnaires asking if they feel safe in school and whether they know who talk to if they are being bullied.

A spokesman for the Welsh Government said: “The Foundation Phase is designed to give all children the best start in life, but as the minister has made clear, we need to see continuous improvement right across the board, at every stage and at every level of the school system.”